Grazier breaks kelpie world record by paying $22k for dog called Seven

A western Victorian grazier did, becoming a doggone legend by paying a world record amount for a kelpie on Sunday.

Nothing to sniff at: Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens, vendor Christian Peacock and Working Dog Auction Chairman John Matthews with kelpie Glencairn Seven, which sold for a world record $22,200.Credit:Tash Franko Photography

Fifty working dogs were sold at auction over the weekend at the Casterton Kelpie Muster, the canine festival that draws 10,000 people to Casterton, 360 kilometres west of Melbourne.

Muster organisers described the $22,200 top dog price, reached after a bidding war, as ‘‘staggering’’.

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‘‘This is a kelpie which had been described pre auction as having a ‘big heart that could work all day’,’’ said Casterton Kelpie Association president Karen Stephens.

Seven the Kelpie

‘‘Well he captured a few hearts and we are gobsmacked by this world record outcome.’’

The two-year-old pooch, named Glencairn Seven or just ''Seven'' because he’s one of a litter of seven puppies, was bred in northern NSW.

Cr Stephens, who is also a Glenelg Shire councillor, said it was ‘‘an overwhelming result’’.

Before the record sale, the crowd of 5000 watched Seven round up flocks of sheep.

The previous record of $14,000 for one kelpie was set in Jerilderie, NSW, in March. The Casterton record before this year’s muster was $12,000 in 2012.

Seven’s new home will be a property in the Hamilton district east of Casterton.

Cr Stephens said dogs remained prized by farmers in the modern age. ‘‘They do the work sometimes of two men, they don’t answer back or take days off and they work long days.

‘‘They are very valuable to a farmer doing stock work. A couple of good kelpies could muster 5000 sheep without a problem.

‘‘They’re instinctively bred. We run a working dog school and it’s a matter of training the handler to work with the dog, not the dog to work with the handler.’’

Cr Stephens said Seven would be ‘‘put to work doing what he loves best in the coming days’’.

The 50 dogs sold at the auction fetched a total $261,000, with an average price of $5289 per dog.

Another festival highlight was the opening of the Australian Kelpie Centre in the town, which has visitor information and kelpie museum areas.

The kelpie breed originated from nearby Warrock station.

A Melbourne dog named Cork, owned by Tristan Mioni, won the Kelpie Triathlon which involved a 2.68m high jump, a hill climb and an endurance race.